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Berkeley, CA July 8, 2015 — Gender topics are making headlines from Caitlyn Jenner to Laverne Cox. Berkeley Public Library welcomes West Edge Opera for a free discussion that illuminates the brave and painful growth of a transgender person in As One, their upcoming production of this Bay Area chamber opera. Join us for a sneak peek performance on Thursday, July 23 at 12:00pm in the third floor Community Meeting Room of the Central Library, located at 2090 Kittredge and Shattuck.

Berkeley, CA July 7, 2015 – The City of Berkeley has long been serious about energy efficiency. A rigorous EBMUD audit of Claremont, North, South, and West Branch Libraries proved these locations are saving significant amounts of energy. Now, water efficiency is a big priority, and the Berkeley Public Library is meeting the drought head-on.

Berkeley, CA July 7, 2015—West Branch Library continues to shine with architectural design leaders. Chosen from the elite pool of Merit Award winners, Grand Awards were announced on June 25 as a feature highlight of PCBC®, the nation’s largest regional conference for the real estate development field. Judges for the 2015 Gold Nugget Awards named Berkeley Public Library’s West Branch as a Grand Award winner in its fifty-sixth annual competition, which honors architectural design and planning excellence internationally.

Berkeley, June 12, 2015 – Join us for an afternoon of songs expressing love, longing and hope by Bay Area musician Diana Gameros. She performs Saturday, June 27, 2015 at 2:30 pm at the West Branch of Berkeley Public Library located at 1125 University Avenue (near San Pablo Avenue). Gameros transfixes listeners with her soaring vocals, impressive playing and captivating stage presence. For more information about this free concert, call 510-981-6121 or 510-981-6270.

Berkeley, June 8, 2015—It’s that time again! Summer is nearly here, and the Berkeley Public Library is gearing up for Summer Reading. Everyone can join us as we celebrate #bplsummer—we have programs, activities and prizes for all ages! Sign up online and print out your #bplsummer game card or pick one up at the Library. Once you have your card, you can play from wherever you go: on vacation, at school, at work, in Berkeley or beyond. It is easy to do!

Berkeley, May 22, 2015 –The Berkeley Public Library will reverberate with the sweet sounds of the Bay Area’s own Mariachi Mexicanisimo on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at Noon. Bring your friends to the fifth floor of the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge (at Shattuck) to hear romantic canción ranchera. This talented Bay Area ensemble plays traditional music that is played at festivals, weddings and quinceañeras; as well as explores contemporary songs while maintaining the time-honored Mariachi style. For more information, call 510-981-6148.

Berkeley, April 24, 2015—One of the best things about children’s books are the illustrations. Pictures bring the stories alive. We invited two outstanding book illustrators to celebrate Children’s Book Week (May 4-10, 2015) at the Berkeley Public Library. Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Annually, commemorative events occur nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes -- wherever young readers and books connect.

Berkeley, April 17, 2015—You have seen those life-like paintings of swirling galaxies that make you gasp in awe at the beauty of the Universe. Dramatic images of giant meteors striking our prehistoric planet bring astronomy alive. Who and how are these pictures created?
Find out when Lynette Cook, artist and award-winning scientific illustrator of extrasolar planets and other space subjects, visits the Berkeley Public Library on Sunday May 3, 2015 at 2:00 – 3:30 pm. She shares her images and explains how she creates art pieces accurate enough for use by researchers. These images also captivate the layperson with the wonder and mystery of outer space. Join us in our third floor Community Meeting Room in the Central Library for this free event. For questions regarding this program, call 510-981-6150.

Berkeley, April 14, 2015—A new generation of veterans are starting to tell their stories. What is it really like on the front lines of today’s wars? Written by Phil Klay, a Dartmouth College graduate and Marine Corp veteran who served in Iraq, “Redeployment is hilarious, biting, whipsawing and sad. It’s the best thing written so far on what the war did to people’s souls” - Dexter Filkins, NYT Review of Books, 3, 6, 2014). Redeployment won the 2014 National Book Award for fiction.

Berkeley, April 14, 2015—Are you one of those people who practiced piano as a child but forgot how to play? Or do you think you are too old to pick up a new skill? Never! Why do you think we have libraries? Join us at the Claremont Branch of the Berkeley Public Library from 1:00-2:00pm any Wednesday in May: May 6, 13, 20 or 27, 2015 for “Piano Chat” a relaxing introduction to piano chords. For more information about this series, or to reserve your space, please call 510-981-6280.